Chapter Summaries

Sarutobi Hiruzen publicized Tsunade and Might Duy’s killing of Hanzo and Hikawa’s killing of Ibuse, strengthening Tsunade’s standing as a future Hokage. When Tsunade returned to Konoha, the village welcomed her as a hero, while Shimura Danzō worried that his own prospects and safety were worsening.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen decided not to seize the Rain Country, ordered Haru to publicize the victories, and considered rewards for Tsunade, Might Duy, and the others.
• The Third Raikage, Dodai, and Mabui discussed Konoha’s advantage after Hanzo’s death, while other villages and Madara Uchiha received news of the battle.
• Tsunade shared dinner with Hikawa at the Akatsuki base, then left with him, Yuhi Kurenai, and Rin Nohara the following morning.
• Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato saw the group off, and the five returned to Konoha two days later.
• Konoha’s villagers greeted Tsunade as a hero, prompting the Uchiha, Hyuga, and other clans to send gifts, while Shimura Danzō feared for his prospects and safety.

Tsunade and Hikawa returned to Konoha after defeating Hanzo, and Sarutobi Hiruzen rewarded their team while agreeing to free Yakushi Nonō and her orphanage from Shimura Danzō’s control. After Hanzo’s corpse exposed Danzō’s collusion with him, Sarutobi disbanded Root and ordered Danzō to remain at home; Nonō learned she was finally free of his influence.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen rewarded Tsunade with ten million ryō, promoted Might Duy to Special Jōnin, and granted Yuhi Kurenai the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique and Rin Nohara the Spiritualization Technique.
• Hikawa asked Sarutobi Hiruzen to remove Yakushi Nonō and the orphanage from Shimura Danzō’s control, and Sarutobi agreed to speak with Nonō.
• Tsunade confronted Sarutobi about Root’s cooperation with Hanzo, and Hikawa gave him a Root ninja’s corpse as evidence.
• Sarutobi summoned Shimura Danzō, who admitted cooperating with Hanzo, then disbanded Root and ordered Danzō to remain at home.
• Sarutobi told Yakushi Nonō that Root had been disbanded and she no longer needed to worry about Danzō.

Tsunade’s return led to Root’s disbandment, prompting Konoha’s clans to rally behind her as the likely next Hokage. As the Third Shinobi World War began, Hikawa delivered ninjutsu scrolls to Kurenai and Rin and urged them to train for the battles ahead.

• Tsunade told Hikawa that Shimura Danzō could no longer threaten her through Root, and the two went to the Casino, where she won money.
• Uchiha Yashiro and Fugaku Uchiha learned Root had been disbanded and saw an opportunity for their clan, while Hiashi Hyuga ordered his clan to support Tsunade.
• Haru delivered scrolls containing the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique for Kurenai and the Spiritualization Technique for Rin, and Hikawa passed them to the girls.
• Haru informed Hikawa that five thousand Sunagakure ninja led by Pakura were heading to the Land of Frost and that Minato had returned to the Land of Fire.
• Tsunade helped Rin and Kurenai study their techniques, then warned them that Konoha might soon enter the war and urged them to improve quickly.

Shimura Danzō persuaded Orochimaru to cooperate in pursuing the Hokage position, while Hikawa mastered the Yin Seal and received new battlefield intelligence. The chapter ended with Tsunade promising to teach Hikawa the Strength of a Hundred Sealings Technique.

• Shimura Danzō approached Orochimaru and offered his support in becoming the Fourth Hokage in exchange for help restoring Root.
• Orochimaru agreed to cooperate after Danzō appealed to his need for resources and the chance to obtain Sharingan during wartime.
• Hikawa mastered the Yin Seal, unlocked its S-rank entry, and used its stored Chakra to refresh himself.
• Hikawa visited the Anbu office, where Xiang told him that Rasa had destroyed Kumogakure's supply depot and suppressed Yugito Nii on the Land of Frost battlefield.
• Hikawa found Tsunade gambling and took her home for dinner after she won some money with his luck bonus.
• Tsunade noticed Hikawa's Yin Seal and promised to teach him the Strength of a Hundred Sealings Technique the next day.

Hikawa helped Rin Nohara train the Spiritualization Technique, and she successfully invaded Yuhi Kurenai’s mental world. At a jōnin meeting, Konoha learned that Kumogakure was advancing after ambushing Sunagakure, while Kirigakure had also begun making suspicious moves.

• Hikawa helped Rin Nohara practice the Spiritualization Technique and detected her soul drifting toward a strange summons before she returned safely.
• Rin Nohara continued training with Hikawa until she gained a basic understanding of the technique and could last longer outside her body.
• With Tsunade supervising, Rin Nohara invaded Yuhi Kurenai’s mental world and gained control of most of it before ending the technique.
• Haru summoned Tsunade to a jōnin meeting after Sunagakure requested Konoha’s aid, and Hikawa accompanied her.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen announced that Kumogakure had ambushed Sunagakure and was advancing toward the Land of Fire, so Orochimaru volunteered to lead four thousand Konoha ninja.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen reported that Kirigakure had begun making suspicious movements, raising the possibility that Konoha would face two fronts.

Konoha prepared for a widening war as Kirigakure deployed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist in the Land of Rivers, and Tsunade led a force there to join Sunagakure. On Hikawa and Tsunade’s shared birthday, Tsunade embraced him before leaving his tent, unsettled by how different the hug felt.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen assigned Tsunade to lead five hundred Konoha ninja to the Land of Rivers, while Namikaze Minato was ordered to monitor Iwagakure’s movements.
• Orochimaru asked Sarutobi Hiruzen to bring the Uchiha Clan with him, and Tsunade agreed to take Might Duy to the Land of Rivers.
• Tsunade told Hikawa, Yuhi Kurenai, and Rin Nohara that they would leave the next morning, and Yuhi Shinko joined their force at Konoha’s gates.
• Tsunade led the group to a border camp in the Land of Rivers, where they waited for Sunagakure’s ninja and celebrated her and Hikawa’s birthday.
• Hikawa suggested that he and Tsunade exchange hugs as birthday gifts, and Tsunade embraced him before leaving the tent, wondering why it felt different.

Hikawa joined Tsunade’s reconnaissance mission to locate Kirigakure’s supply base and discovered Mei Terumi and several powerful Mist ninja on an island. After Hyuga Saku was detected, Tsunade moved to protect him as the enemy attacked, and Mei recognized Hikawa’s presence.

• Sunagakure’s forces arrived at the camp, and Tsunade ordered a joint operation to find Kirigakure’s outposts and supply base.
• Tsunade assigned Hikawa’s team and Hyuga Saku’s team to follow a transport ship and scout the sea.
• Hikawa used Water Style to follow the ship to an island, where he spotted Mei Terumi and Raiga Kurosuki.
• Tsunade sent Hyuga Saku to scout the island, but the Hidden Mist Technique revealed that he had been discovered and three jonin pursued him.
• Tsunade protected Hyuga Saku from a water dragon while Hikawa blocked Biwa Jūzō’s Kubikiribōchō, and Mei guessed that Hikawa was nearby.

Tsunade and Hikawa fought Kirigakure’s forces, killing Raiga Kurosuki and Biwa Jūzō while Mei Terumi was overwhelmed and allowed to escape. The group returned with the wounded Hyuga Saku, and Hikawa sealed away the two swords he had taken.

• Tsunade beat Raiga Kurosuki while Biwa Jūzō drove the wounded Hyuga Saku back, and Hikawa defeated Mei Terumi in their fight.
• Tsunade killed Raiga Kurosuki, and Hikawa killed Biwa Jūzō with a Rasengan and the Thunder Fire Sword.
• Mei Terumi ordered the Kirigakure ninja to stop pursuing and check the fallen swordsmen, but their medical ninja confirmed both were dead.
• Tsunade, Hikawa, and the severely wounded Hyuga Saku returned to their group, where Tsunade began treating him.
• Hikawa gained an increase to his Water Style talent and sealed the Kubikiribōchō and Lightning Blade Fang against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen’s summoning scroll.
• Hikawa told Yuhi Kurenai, Rin Nohara, and Hyuga Hitori that Biwa Jūzō and Raiga Kurosuki were dead, leaving them shocked.

Tsunade’s squad killed Biwa Jūzō and Raiga Kurosuki, but Kirigakure answered with effective harassment tactics, prompting Konoha and Sunagakure to plan countermeasures. Back in Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen shared news of the victory with his advisers, while Shimura Danzō worried that Tsunade’s growing reputation would overshadow Orochimaru.

• Tsunade treated Hyuga Saku, ended the mission, and returned to camp with news that Biwa Jūzō and Raiga Kurosuki were dead.
• Tsunade let Hikawa keep the ninja swords, and he gave her Kubikiribōchō while planning to reforge Lightning Blade Fang.
• Suikazan Fuguki ordered Kirigakure to relocate its supply depot and adopt harassment warfare after learning that Tsunade had killed two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
• Kirigakure’s attacks caused Konoha and Sunagakure fresh casualties, so Tsunade ordered more lookout posts and Hyuga search squads to find the enemy’s main base.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Shimura Danzō that Tsunade’s squad had killed Biwa Jūzō and Raiga Kurosuki, and Danzō resolved to urge Orochimaru to produce results.

Hikawa and Tsunade defeated six Kirigakure ninja, then learned Orochimaru had suffered heavy losses in a Kumogakure ambush. Hikawa persuaded Tsunade to join him in searching for Kirigakure's base the next day, and he ended the chapter massaging her hand.

• Tsunade, Hikawa, Yuhi Kurenai, and Rin Nohara reached an outpost too late to save four Konoha ninja, but Tsunade and Hikawa killed the six Kirigakure ninja there.
• The squad handed the outpost over to reinforcements and returned to camp, where Nara Suzaku delivered intelligence from Konoha.
• Hikawa read that Orochimaru had fallen into a Kumogakure ambush, losing more than a hundred ninja, including four Uchiha jonin.
• Tsunade learned Danzo had volunteered to lead Anbu to the Land of Frost, while Hikawa proposed searching for Kirigakure's main base at sea.
• Tsunade agreed to accompany Hikawa the next day, and he began massaging her hand after suggesting he knew a technique to relieve finger fatigue.

Hikawa located the Hidden Mist Village Main Camp, and Tsunade led a force of Konoha and Sunagakure ninja in an attack before Kirigakure could relocate. As the battle raged, Hikawa helped counter the Hidden Mist Technique and confronted Kushimaru Kuriarare, whose kick against Hikawa’s fist left him badly hurt and wary.

• Hikawa found the Hidden Mist Village Main Camp by spotting Suikazan Fuguki and Kushimaru Kuriarare, then reported its location to Tsunade.
• Tsunade summoned reinforcements, joined them with Hikawa, and led the group to attack the island and target the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
• Tsunade fought Suikazan Fuguki while Might Duy battled Jinin Akebino, and Hikawa killed several Kirigakure ninja with his sword and techniques.
• Hikawa found and killed the Kirigakure ninja generating the Hidden Mist, then dispersed the fog and defeated another Kirigakure jonin with genjutsu and a sword strike.
• Kushimaru Kuriarare killed a Sunagakure jonin and attacked Hikawa, but Hikawa knocked him back with a powerful punch, leaving Kushimaru injured and cautious.

Hikawa defeated Kushimaru Kuriarare, while Tsunade and Might Duy helped eliminate the other Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. With the remaining Kirigakure forces routed, Tsunade ordered Konoha’s troops to secure the island, and Hikawa sealed away Samehada.

• Hikawa used a wide range of elemental techniques, a Shadow Clone, and buried Exploding Tags to defeat Kushimaru Kuriarare, then killed him with Nuibari.
• Tsunade knocked Suikazan Fuguki unconscious and disabled Samehada, while Might Duy defeated Jinin Akebino with Daytime Tiger.
• Tsunade and Hikawa attacked Munashi Jinpachi together, knocked him unconscious, and Hikawa collected his Exploding Blade: Shibuki.
• After the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were wiped out, the remaining Kirigakure ninja fled, and Tsunade ordered Konoha’s forces to pursue them and secure the island.
• Tsunade learned that a small number of Kirigakure ninja had escaped and ordered reinforcements to the island while warning the others about attacks from nearby islands.
• Hikawa examined Samehada beside Suikazan Fuguki’s corpse and sealed the sword away.

Hikawa helped Tsunade and Sunagakure defeat Kirigakure’s forces, killed Kushimaru Kuriarare, and gained the King of Blades trait. Kirigakure withdrew, while Sarutobi Hiruzen prepared to publicize the victory and Hikawa’s role in it.

• Hikawa gave Tsunade the captured ninja blades, and she suggested Kirigakure might pay to reclaim them after the war.
• Hikawa explained that Five Element Ninjutsu had let him defeat Kushimaru Kuriarare, and Tsunade offered to ask Sarutobi Hiruzen to teach him Compound Ninjutsu as a reward.
• Hikawa gained the B-rank King of Blades trait, which increased the power of his blade techniques and swordsmanship by 100%.
• Mei Terumi learned that the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had all died and ordered Kirigakure’s remaining forces to withdraw.
• Tsunade divided the captured supplies and documents between Konoha and Sunagakure, and Hikawa gave Yuhi Kurenai scrolls containing Kirigakure’s Hidden Mist Technique and Mist Instantaneous Body Technique.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen received Tsunade’s battle report and ordered the news spread, emphasizing that Hikawa had found the main camp and Tsunade had led the attack that wiped out the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

Orochimaru and Danzō responded to Tsunade’s victory over Kirigakure while Ōnoki planned to exploit the war by targeting Kumogakure. On the island, Hikawa beat Kurenai in another Hidden Mist Technique spar before Tsunade announced that the Konoha forces would return home the next morning.

• News spread that Tsunade, Hikawa, and the others had killed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and forced Kirigakure to retreat, boosting Hikawa’s reputation and pleasing Hyuga Hiashi.
• Shimura Danzō told Orochimaru that Tsunade had defeated Kirigakure’s swordsmen, and Orochimaru ordered Hatake Sakumo’s team transferred to the Kumogakure front, naming Sarutobi Asuma as the key to securing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Ōnoki decided Iwagakure would feign an attack on Konoha before swiftly attacking Kumogakure once its guard was down.
• Hikawa caught Yuhi Kurenai during their Hidden Mist Technique spar, and Kurenai vowed to keep training rather than accept a win from him.
• Tsunade told Hikawa, Rin Nohara, and Yuhi Kurenai that Sunagakure’s forces would guard the island while the Konoha shinobi returned home the next morning.

After returning to Konoha from their victory over Kirigakure, Hikawa received two Compound Ninjutsu scrolls from Sarutobi Hiruzen as a reward. Back home, Hikawa chose which technique to learn first and considered how to prepare himself and his friends for the dangers ahead.

• Tsunade led the returning ninja into Konoha, where villagers and former patients welcomed Hikawa and his companions.
• Tsunade asked Sarutobi Hiruzen to give Hikawa his reward immediately, and Hikawa requested Compound Ninjutsu.
• After reading an account of Hikawa's battle with Kushimaru Kuriarare, Sarutobi Hiruzen gave him scrolls for Earth Dragon Flame Stream and Lightning Water Dragon Bullet.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Tsunade to support Namikaze Minato if Iwagakure made a move, then gave the returning group time off.
• Hikawa returned home with Yuhi Kurenai, helped clean the house, and decided to learn Lightning Water Dragon Bullet first.
• Hikawa recalled the dangers surrounding Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha and resolved to keep training so he and his friends would be ready.

Hikawa trained Lightning Release Chakra Mode, spent a quiet evening with Tsunade, and received his mission reward. Half a month later, he collected his reforged Thunder Fire Sword, arranged to publish a new novel, and tested the sword’s ability to draw down natural lightning.

• Hikawa cooked ramen for Tsunade, tied her hair into a ponytail, and spent the day training Lightning Release Chakra Activation with help from his Yin Seal.
• Tsunade returned from the Casino, let Hikawa rest on her lap, and accepted the mission reward from Haru before giving Hikawa five million ryo.
• Half a month later, Hikawa collected his reforged Thunder Fire Sword from Tenmura’s shop and found that it had gained an A-Rank Entry with stronger lightning properties.
• Hikawa visited the Konoha Knowledge Bookstore and gave Uncle Tsuchihashi his new novel, "Maple and Bell," for simultaneous novel and manga publication.
• Hikawa received an intelligence scroll from Haru, then tested the Thunder Fire Sword and watched it draw lightning down from the sky.

Hikawa trained in new techniques as Konoha prepared for a subdued New Year, then invited Yuhi Kurenai to spend the holiday at Tsunade’s house. On New Year’s Eve, he and Kurenai went shopping for kimono, leaving with a gift for Tsunade still to choose.

• Hikawa tested the Thunder Fire Sword and learned that Hatake Kakashi had become a Special Jōnin while Hatake Sakumo had destroyed a Cloud supply convoy.
• Hikawa trained with Yuhi Kurenai and Rin Nohara, but his attempt to master Mitotic Regeneration: Strength of a Hundred Sealings failed.
• After two months, Hikawa mastered Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld and gained the Earth Release Special Jōnin entry.
• Hikawa invited Yuhi Kurenai to spend New Year at Tsunade’s house, and Kurenai eagerly planned gifts and food for the visit.
• On New Year’s Eve, Hikawa and Kurenai went shopping and chose a black-and-red kimono for her before looking for one to give Tsunade.

Hikawa and Yuhi Kurenai spent New Year’s Eve with Tsunade, sharing a meal and welcoming the new year together. The next morning, Haru summoned Tsunade and Hikawa to a meeting because Iwagakure had made a move.

• Hikawa and Yuhi Kurenai arrived at Tsunade’s home, where Kurenai gave Tsunade a kimono that Tsunade put on.
• Haru delivered a scroll reporting that Hatake Sakumo’s team had killed forty-two Kumogakure ninja and seriously injured Yugito Nii while suffering no major casualties.
• Tsunade and Hikawa wondered how Sakumo’s squad had achieved the victory, and Hikawa suspected Uchiha Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Hikawa, Yuhi Kurenai, and Tsunade ate dinner, celebrated the new year, and shared soba noodles while Kurenai wished for the war to end and Hikawa wished Tsunade would become Hokage.
• The next morning, Haru brought Sarutobi Hiruzen’s order summoning Tsunade and Hikawa to a meeting because Iwagakure had made a move.

Tsunade led two thousand Konoha ninja to the Land of Grass after the Hidden Stone Village attacked Konoha’s western defense force. The Iwagakure ninja withdrew before Tsunade’s reinforcements arrived, and she met with Namikaze Minato at the front-line camp.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen told the jonin that Iwagakure had ambushed Mimura Hamaki’s defense force, and he ordered Tsunade to take two thousand ninja to reinforce them.
• Tsunade assigned the Hyuga Clan to watch for Kirigakure, while Hikawa reasoned that Iwagakure’s true target was Kumogakure.
• Hikawa alerted Rin Nohara and Yuhi Kurenai to the deployment, and he prepared supplies before joining Tsunade’s force.
• Tsunade ordered Aburame Shibi to lead the force’s reconnaissance as two thousand ninja hurried toward the Land of Grass.
• After the force reached the Land of Grass, Aburame Shibi reported that Namikaze Minato’s unit had suffered losses and that the Iwagakure ninja had retreated.
• Namikaze Minato met Tsunade’s force and welcomed her, explaining that the enemy had withdrawn during the battle.

Hikawa attended a strategy meeting at the Land of Grass camp, where Tsunade and Minato discussed Iwagakure’s retreat and relocated main camp. After reuniting with Kakashi, Obito challenged Hikawa to a spar and was swiftly defeated by his varied ninjutsu.

• Hikawa learned that Kakashi, Obito, and Guy were away tracking Iwagakure’s retreat, then joined Tsunade’s meeting in the main tent.
• Kakashi reported that Iwagakure had moved its main camp about five kilometers back, and Tsunade ordered the shinobi to keep the enemy out of the Land of Fire.
• Kakashi, Obito, and Guy returned to camp, and Obito boasted that his Fire Style had improved and that he would become a Jōnin before Hikawa.
• Hikawa agreed to spar with Obito, who used his Sharingan and several Fire Style techniques to attack him.
• Hikawa countered Obito’s attacks with Water, Earth, and Lightning Style techniques, trapping him in a swamp and knocking him unconscious with lightning.